When Ever After Has Finally Arrived

'I don't really know if I'll have my own wedding someday but one thing is for sure: I can patiently wait for my own prince charming.  He does not have to be royalty. He does not have to be handsome, brave or statuesque.  He can always be an ordinary guy who will love the plain and simple me.  

That was two years ago.  Now, after 27 months, I can finally say that the long wait has come to its end.  Call it fate.  Call it destiny.  Call it serendipity.  I think I have found 'the one.'  

Sabi nga ng nanay ko, 'Ang pag-ibig, hindi hinahanap 'yan.  Kusang dumarating 'yan.'  I'm glad I listened to her (partially listened, I guess) because right now, I am really, really happy.  Imagine spending 21 Valentine's Days alone, 21 Christmas Eves with my family, 21 birthdays with no one else but my twin sis and I.  That was a little bit lonely I guess.

Well, I won't have to go through it all once again.  All those lonesome moments seeing lovely couples holding hands and expressing their love for each other are all but memories away.  I already met the guy I'll watch movies with, the man I won't get tired of sharing stories with, the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.

He's not even of royal descent.  He's not as handsome as Cinderella's Prince Charming (because he is handsome in his own way), as brave as Hercules or as statuesque as Aurora's prince.  He's just an ordinary guy who has learned to love the plain and simple me and that's what really matters.

 

It all started when this simple Mindoreña stepped onto the halls of Philippine Heart Center(PHC) and this guy  from the said institution approached her and said:

'Miss, nagkicrit care ka pala.'   

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Lovelots, 
Maica Angelle



 
Credits:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.255279787928095.57934.100003382270306&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.259557077500366.59288.100003382270306&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3749060253904.2133394.1498278212&type=3  
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.326426567380604.92720.100000397892268&type=3

My Crit Care Experience

Dearest Bloggerbuds,

Christmas is just around the corner.  I know, and by around the corner, I speak of Christmas ornaments everywhere, Christmas carols arising out of nowhere, Christmas parties here and there.  Oh well, at least you all get the picture.  Anyway, inasmuch as I want to blog how the season had been treating me lately, let me first share my memorable experience with one of the premiere hospitals in the country- the Philippine Heart Center.

Last September 17- November 9, 2012, I was given the chance to attend the Critical Care Course of PHC(Philippine Heart Center). Defined by http://www.phc.gov.ph/training/nursing-education/nureduc/index.php?prog_uid=1 as an eight-week program intended to prepare nurses to be responsive to the complex needs of the critically ill in the advanced field of critical care nursing, the course is composed of a three-week didactic phase and a month-long exposure to the various critical care units of PHC.  It is intended for Filipino nurses like me from various parts of the archipelago who want to be more adept in responding to the increasing demands of the critically-ill patients from all walks of life all over the country.

Unlike the other training programs I've come across with, this one is the most challenging and memorable for me.  Imagine, I had to pass the arduous pre-qualifying examination and the immense interview with the PHC mentors in order to secure a slot for this program.

Anyway, if getting onto the program was already challenging, keeping-up with it is yet another story.  The first three weeks weren't easy at all. Imagine, I was out of my comfort zone dealing with various people in a diverse environment trying to keep up with the lectures, quizzes and major exams.  I had to endure all those boring, lengthy nights at the PHC dormitory.  I had to learn how to ride the LRT (Light Railway Transit)/ MRT (Metro Railway Transit), commute from Vito Cruz to Quezon City, experience the condo life(since I was visiting my brother at his condo unit somewhere in Vito Cruz over the weekends), and live the life of an ordinary probinsyana stuck in the wilderness of Metro Manila.  It was clearly insane.

Lecture Days

my Batchmates

When the didactic phase has finally come to pass, we finally bid goodbye to the classroom-type environment to make way for 'the critical care environment itself.' All the tiresome lectures, the mind-boggling surpirse quizzes, the nerve-wracking major exams and all the kulitan moments in between already ended but learning didn't have to stop there.

 

Surgical Intensive Care Unit II

 

Petal 3D Children's Ward 

Adult Service Ward

Cardiovascular Lab

 

Neuro ICU(Intensive Care Unit)

Surgical Intensive Care Unit I

Pediatric ICU

 

Coronary Care Unit


 
 Pulmo Rehab

Medical ICU

As part of 'the Crit Care experience,'  the batch had to prepare several case presentations- the most challenging, burdensome and ambitious requirements up-to-date.  Imagine, I had to spend some tiresome days, sleepless evenings and tedious brain storming sessions with my groupmates before we were able to come up with a manuscript. 

My Case Study Buddies

Prepping-up for Case Pres

The Pulmo Group

Hence, after all the case study manuscripts were done, the case studies were presented, the journals  were checked and the exposures were finally over, the group had to set our white uniforms aside for our most awaited moment- the Graduation Ceremonies.

              My Crit Care Mentors

 

  Group 3- 73rd PHC Critical Care Course

73rd PHC Critical Care Course Graduation Ceremonies

    Archer, Rizza, I and Romeo 

It has been a month since I stepped out of the comforts of the Philippine Heart Center(PHC) to be somewhere close to my heart- HOME.  And right now, I don't have lengthy manuals to review,  case studies to focus on nor journals to finish.  All those Light Railway Transit/ Metro Railway Transit rides, sleepless nights at the dorm, the Crit Care challenges and everything else in between are all but memories away.  However, for what it's worth, I left my heart at PHC and the story doesn't end there.


Lovelots,
Maica Angelle
Credits:

http://www.phc.gov.ph/training/nursing-education/nureduc/index.php?prog_uid=1

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004365368144&sk=photos
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.542132789134412.141453.100000130881158&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.551529118194779.143428.100000130881158&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3749060253904.2133394.1498278212&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.326426567380604.92720.100000397892268&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.258372894285451.58931.100003382270306&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.326426567380604.92720.100000397892268&type=3

 

 

 
 

Memory Lane: Experiencing Malaysia

Malaysia Truly Asia Slideshow: Maica’s trip from Singapore to Melaka State, Malaysia was created by TripAdvisor. See another Melaka State slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.

Last 2009, I was given the chance to visit the historical state of Melaka in Malaysia..  It was during my two-week stay at Singapore with my mom and twin sister.  Malaysia is the second foreign country I visited and it was clearly fabulous!

Lovelots,
Maica Angelle

Memory Lane: My Trip to Singapore

My Trip to Singapore Slideshow: Maica’s trip from City of Calapan (near Calapan, Luzon, Philippines) to 4 cities Orchard (near Singapore, Singapore), Sentosa Island, Changi Village (near Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia) and Jurong Lake (near Jurong) was created by TripAdvisor. See another Malaysia slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

I've recently discovered a cool app on facebook... It's an app wherein I can share photos from some of my memorable trips.  This slideshow showcases visit to Singapore way back in 2009.  It is my first out-of-the-country trip, something that will always be special to me. 

Lovelots,
Maica Angelle

On Braving the Odds of Yesterday

Single and Loving it

Ni Hao Ma, pengyou?  As of today, I have a new hairstyle, has been studying another foreign language, has already learned the art of  putting on make-up, has been active at the gym, has a new hobby(and that is cycling) and is officially single. Crazy, right?  I know.

Several months ago, I was about to go to Australia for a bridge program.  I was this simple ER(Emergency Room) nurse who loves braiding my wavy hair.  I was too lazy to do household chores nor workout.  I didn't know how to put on make-up and learning another language was the last thing on my mind.  I was young, content and in love.  I had an ideal boyfriend, a loving family, a blossoming career, great friends and a promising future ahead.  I was happy.

Then there came complications.  My trip to Australia has been cancelled, my love life had been in chaos and before I knew it, my life was already twisted, messy and jumbled.  If you're going to ask me how these all happened, I can only leave a sigh.

I've already shed a bucket of tears, spent hundreds of hours wondering what if, listened to a number of cheesy love songs and heard a lot of derogatory statements said behind my back.  I was hurt, confused and broken.  I  lost the man who loves me more than anything else in this world and the person closest to my heart and  it seemed that no matter what I do, I was constantly being judged.

I was tagged as 'mang-iiwan,' 'hindi karapat-dapat ipagtanggol,' 'niligawan lang kasi walang nanliligaw sa akin dati,' 'isang babaeng hindi karapat-dapat balikan.'  There were a lot of stories, really and the worst of it all was when some people said that that man who will take notice of me is 'crazy and stupid to want a girl like me.'  I felt so alone, so useless and so ugly.  Never in my life had I realized that I deserved to be treated that way.  I was judged without being given some chance to uplift myself.

braving the odds of yesterday

I was really down that time.  I didn't even know what to do.  It was then that I realized that I should not let those people get the best of me.  They have no right to make false judgements about me because they weren't in my shoes.  They weren't there when I was fighting for something that wasn't working anymore.  They weren't there when I was having a hard time picking-up the broken pieces of a relationship I gave all my heart and soul into.  They didn't know how I felt when I was fighting for the man who didn't even fought for me.  They weren't there.

It was during those times when I felt the need for God.  I prayed:

'I lift everything up to you O Lord.  I know that your will is better than what I have for myself as always.  I pray for my own success, my family, my friends and the people who have hurt me in the past. I pray for my enemies and the people who persecute me.  I pray for my country and the whole wide world. Please let time heal all the broken wounds of yesterday.  Lead me, dear Lord and let my heart be whole again. In God's name, I pray. Amen'

Lovelots, 

Maica Angelle

Experiencing Anawangin with the 4As

Imagine an overnight stay in a remote place deprived of electricity, concrete buildings, cellphone signals and all the hustle and bustle of the city life.  That's what I and my high school buddies had to go through last month at Anawangin. 

Anawangin Cove, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales

Described as a crescent-shaped cove bestowed with off-white sand, lush pine forest surrounding and crystal clear waters, Anawangin is an island located in Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales. It is a 4-6 hour drive from Manila, a perfect destination for those who want to get closer to nature. 

In our pursuit for the perfect summer getaway, I and my 4A friends came up with a non-traditional out-of-town get together last May 12-13, 2012 at this place.  Despite of the 2-hr. boat ride from Mindoro to Batangas seaports, the 3-4 hr. bus ride from Batangas to Manila and the long journey all the way to the north, our group braved all the odds just to experience the cove's wilderness.

Station I: Calapan Seaport

Station II: at a Montenegro Shipping Line bound for Batangas

Station III: SM North EDSA

Station IV: Subic

Station V: @Resto Bar, Subic

Station VI: Chilling at 7/11

Station VII: waiting for our boat ride heading for the island

Hence, after all the endless walks, the tiresome boat rides, the never-ending drives and the long wait, we were finally able to set foot on the cove.  We then saw the evergreen pine trees, the calm shore, the colorful tents and a camp site like no other.  We were somewhere unlike any other places we've been with before.  We were one with nature.  

Anawangin, Here We Come...

Our Camp Site

My twin sister and I experiencing the Camp life

4As at Anawangin

It took us a while to set-up our tents and prepare for the next adventure for the day: the trip towards Capones island.

Prepping-up for Capones Island

Famous for its lighthouse,  the sand and rock mixture, and the open sea, Capones Island is one of the main attractions of Pundaquit Zambales.  It is a 20-30 minute ride from the cove, a place to go if you are in for some adventure.

 Capones Island

the view atop the island

sitting by the rock

by the light house

the light house

the view from the top

The weather suddenly became unstable as we headed back to the cove.  Clouds overshadowed the sky giving way to the pouring rain.  Then, we went to the shore and swam our way at a place away from our home, somewhere we were only dreaming of seeing before.

Hence, as the day has finally come to an end, we all went back to camp.  There, we had to survive a dark, rainy night at the wilderness with nothing but our tents, bags and each other.  We were somewhere away from all the facebook dramas, the cheesy telenovelas, the stressful workplaces and all the negativities of the world.  We were at peace and before we knew it, a new day has finally arrived.

What a beautiful morning...

Good Morning Anawangin...

Start the day right!

Unlike the previous day, the next one is all about exploring the wilderness.  We've had two activities before we finally geared-up towards home. First, we had to climb one of the steep, rocky mountains of the cove.

Activity: Climb that mountain!

4As on a hike

My hiking adventure

Our last activity at the cove involved a visit to one of the rivers by the area.  It wasn't as grand as the other rivers I've come across with but I had fun.  We took a lot of pictures, had our own dose of 'kulitan' moments, and explored Anawangin for the last time as we then headed back towards home.

Time for some river adventure

by the river

with the Tamaraw skulls

Kulitan by the wilderness

I had to sacrifice another busy night shift at our ER for the sake of the long trip towards home but it was all worth it.  I was able to spend some time with my long lost high school buddies and amidst the scorching heat, the endless search for normalcy and the quest for survival, my experience at the cove is something I'll always remember for the rest of my life.

As we head back home...

With the Anawangin boys

Lovelots,
Maica Angelle

 Credits:
http://www.e-philippines.com.ph/philippine-destinations/anawangin-cove-capones-island-zambales/
http://www.waypoints.ph/detail_gen.php?wpt=anwngn
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anawangin-Natures-Cove-Beach-Resort/191810967527017?sk=info
http://manilenio.com/anawangin/
http://www.pundaquit.com/attractions-in-pundaquit/capones-island-lighthouse.html
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=389376394447351&set=a.388677367850587.107772.100001249825564&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3778570757276.149993.1667119082&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3725208023241.149003.1667119082&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1776770513521.93513.1667119082&type=3